In today’s rapidly evolving world, where convenience and speed often reign supreme, a quiet revolution is taking place on our streets and sidewalks. The growing popularity of non-motorized transportation, often referred to as “active transportation,” is reshaping our communities and our lives in profound ways. From bustling metropolises to quaint suburban neighborhoods, designers, planners, and entire communities are increasingly realizing the benefits of walking and rolling. In doing so, they are transforming the way we think about transportation, health, and urban planning.
In this piece we’ll examine how active transportation is playing a key role in designing healthier communities while improving connectivity, sustainability, and economic growth.
Read along or skip ahead:
- What is Active Transportation?
- Active Transportation Benefits to Public Health
- Congestion & Climate Impact
- Creating Safer Commute Options
- Economic Benefits of Active Transportation
- Types of Active Transportation
What is Active Transportation?
Active transportation encompasses any mode of travel that involves human propulsion – walking, cycling, skateboarding, and similar forms of mobility. It’s the human-powered movement that breathes life into our streets and invites interaction within communities in developing the public right-of-way. The benefits of active transportation extend beyond mere personal fitness; it nurtures a culture of connection and vibrancy within our towns and cities.
This movement aligns seamlessly with the philosophy of multimodal transportation and complete streets design. It recognizes the importance of accommodating a diverse range of travel choices, ensuring that our roads and paths are welcoming to pedestrians, cyclists, and users of all abilities.
Active Transportation Benefits to Public Health
Amid the pressing concerns of our modern world is the growing public health crisis of obesity, due in large part to increasingly sedentary lifestyles. According to the World Health Organization, people who are insufficiently active have a 20%-30% increased risk of death from a variety of causes.
The reality that two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese underscores the urgency of reimagining our transportation landscape. Active transportation emerges as one solution to a variety of ills surrounding both public health and the transportation, offering a practical solution that naturally infuses physical activity into daily routines.
What’s more, the significance of the movement encouraged by active transportation extends beyond individual well-being. Unhealthier communities place strain on healthcare systems and exact emotional costs from reduced quality of life. By embracing active transportation, we can collectively counteract these social costs, cultivating a society that prioritizes well-being and reaps the rewards of healthier, more fulfilled citizens.
Reducing Congestion and Transportation Climate Impact
As cities continue to expand, transportation-related congestion poses significant challenges. It’s also no secret that the transportation sector contributes significantly – approximately 45% of total emissions in the U.S. – to air pollution. The correlation between these issues and increased motorized traffic is irrefutable.
In an industry aiming to reduce climate impact while also improving connectivity, active transportation serves as a powerful remedy to both problems. By design, the approach is offering emission-free travel options that mitigate environmental strain and alleviating congestion in urban centers simultaneously.
Creating Safer, More Plentiful Commute Options
Reducing congestion has benefits that extend beyond sustainable design alone. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) people are driving less while biking and walking more. At the same time, pedestrian and cyclist fatalities have also increased, further emphasizing the importance of active transportation design that naturally creates safer pedestrian right of way.
Access to reliable, equitable transportation is the lifeblood of thriving communities. Active transportation plays a pivotal role in shaping our neighborhoods by offering safer and more plentiful commute options. This is especially significant for lower-income individuals who may lack direct access to public transit or personal vehicles.
Intentional design that integrates active transportation into urban design is paramount to diverse, viable commute options. Carefully planned infrastructure ensures that pedestrians and cyclists are shielded from motorized traffic, promoting safety and fostering a culture of shared road space. This approach also contributes to more accessible, ADA-compliant communities where everyone can move with ease and dignity.
The Economic Benefits of Active Transportation
Active transportation isn’t just a health booster; it’s also a catalyst for economic growth. With greater connectivity comes not only greater access to necessary services and employment opportunities, but also local businesses. The link between healthier communities and economic prosperity is undeniable. Areas with enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities often see increased property values and vibrant local businesses, creating a cycle of improvement and investment.
Property and Business Value
From increasing retail visibility to raising real estate value, the economic impact of active transportation on a community can take many forms. Studies across various U.S. cities by the Urban Land Institute find houses located in areas with above-average walkability or bikeability are worth up to $34,000 more than similar homes in areas where those features are average. As for businesses, people who arrive by bicycle have been shown to spend more overall while making more frequent visits.
Funding and Resource Efficiency
Aside from the economic benefits to the surrounding community, advantages also extend to the feasibility of the project itself. Active transportation infrastructure diminishes the need for constant road expansions to accommodate heavy traffic and roadway repairs that come with time and influx in population. This cost-saving measure frees up resources for other community enhancements, reinforcing the attractiveness of these areas to residents, businesses, and investors.
In fact, many existing roadways are repurposed and converted to accommodate multi-use travel. With that approach, active routes can be swiftly implemented using a modest investment in curbing, traffic paint and signs, and landscaping.
Barriers to getting active transportation projects off the ground can also be reduced from a financial standpoint. Funding and grants for active transportation projects are easier to secure due to their inherent value to the community and the positive impact on pedestrian safety.
Types of Active Transportation
Active transportation comes in various forms, each with its own set of benefits and design considerations. From walking to biking, these modes of mobility interact with different facets of community life, ranging from leisure to essential transportation. Accessibility and ADA compliance remain vital in ensuring that all members of the community can participate.
Wayfinding – the art of providing clear signage to guide users – also plays a critical role in successful active transportation design. By helping people navigate these routes efficiently, we encourage broader adoption of non-motorized transportation.
Walking Transportation and Pedestrian Infrastructure
Walking is the most fundamental form of active transportation, and its role in urban planning cannot be overstated. Walkability contributes to the vitality of neighborhoods, enabling residents and visitors to engage with their environment, access essential services, and enjoy leisurely strolls.
Pedestrian infrastructure is central to this vision, ensuring safe and appealing walkways. Investments in pedestrian bridges, designed to link key areas of a community, further underscore the commitment to providing accessible and enjoyable pedestrian experiences.
Bike Facilities and Infrastructure
Bicycle infrastructure takes active transportation to new horizons, extending the reach of human-powered travel. Protected bike lanes, cycle tracks, and shared roadways carve out safe spaces for cyclists, allowing them to navigate through urban landscapes with confidence. Protected intersections further enhance safety, ensuring that cyclists can navigate intersections without fear.
The rising prominence of active transportation symbolizes a transformative shift in the way we move and live. This movement isn’t just about physical health; it’s about nurturing communities that are vibrant, connected, and sustainable. By embracing active transportation, we invest in our well-being, our environment, and our future. As we pedal, stroll, and roll towards healthier, more equitable communities, we pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.
Multi-Use Paths
The concept of multi-use paths embodies inclusivity and adaptability. Such paths cater to various user groups, accommodating activities from scooting to dog walking. Thoughtful design accounts for different forms of transportation and future traffic considerations, such as the burgeoning popularity of electric bicycles. There are also a variety of surface types to consider that offer their own unique benefits for different types of users. In designing multi-use paths, it’s a delicate balance between user comfort, safety, and accessibility remains paramount in crafting these versatile pathways.
Trails and Trailheads
Beyond the urban landscape, trails carve a path to healthy recreation and appreciation of nature. They also offer another key option for people to seek out regular exercise. Sustainable trail design minimizes maintenance while accommodating diverse user groups and minimizing conflicts. Trails beckon people outdoors, nurturing a deeper connection to the environment and fostering a shared sense of stewardship.
Merging Transportation Design with Community Growth
Whether it be an urban corridor or rural open space, community growth takes shape in a variety of ways. More than just addressing population growth or fixing infrastructure, it’s about ultimately designing communities for both the present and future From project goals of supporting future economic development, to incorporating multimodal design, our multidisciplinary expertise allows for a comprehensive approach to achieving what matters most, improving the lives of the people who call that place home.
Take a closer look at our transportation engineering practice and learn more about how sustainability, accessibility, and mobility come together to create greater community connectivity.
